Massey Ferguson acquired Hesston, an agricultural equipment manufacturer, on August 11th, 1991. Founded in 1947, Hesston had been a pioneer in the production of hay and forage harvesting equipment as well as cotton picking and hay baling machines. The acquisition was seen as a positive move for both companies by bringing together Massey Ferguson’s experience in large-scale farm and agricultural equipment with Hesston’s specialized range of hay and forage machines and attachments. Massey Ferguson soon incorporated the Hesston brand into their product lineup, and the combination of Massey Ferguson’s durable tractor technologies and Hesston’s advanced hay harvesting tools soon gained them a large and loyal customer base.